Frank Hanson

This book is very moralistic and substitutes a lot of banal sermonising [by a dubious representation of Merlin] for a good story. The knight is criticised for seeking adventure and attempting to save women from distress - instead he should be passive and spend his time looking at a mirror i.e. become narcissistic. He is criticised by everyone including his wife and son - who make no attempt to interact with him or show any kindness, The message seems to be that men should be effeminate and not be actively engaged in improving the world. A shocking, badly sometimes pretentiously written book which can only be harmful to children - compare it with Treasure Island which is so amusing and exciting and where the characters are real and the moral is in the story itself and not preached by the know-all author !